Golden Visa EN Version

Golden VISA

Overview

The law approved by the Portuguese government allows citizens outside the EU to apply for a residency permit in Portugal based on the investment. The applicant may apply as an individual or by a way of a company, as a holder of the shares.  The company may be based in Portugal or at any other country of the EU.

Holders of residence permits for Investment Activity (also known as ARI) are allowed to travel in EU Schengen zone, and i) are entitle to apply for family reunion, ii) have access to a permanent residence permit as well as iii) the Portuguese Citizenship in accordance with the legal requirements ( e.g. eligibility ).

The applicant can:

• Purchase a property by a minimum amount of € 500.000,00;
• Set up a company and hire at least 10 employees;
• Transfer to Portugal a minimum amount of € 1.000.000,00.

Purchase a Property

Eligibility:

• The investor must buy one or more properties with a value equal or higher than € 500,000.00 (five hundred thousand euros);
• The applicant must stay in Portugal for 7 days in the first year and 14 days for each subsequent two years.
• The applicant must not have been convicted of a crime punishable with more than one year of jail;
• The applicant must not have been subject to a prohibition of entry into the country, after an order to leave the country;
• The applicant must not be the subject of alerts at the Schengen Information System.

The permit is valid for five years, but it is subject to renewal twice during the following period:

• At the end of the first year;
• At the end of the third year.

To apply for the residence permit, the following documents must be provided:

• Passport or other valid travel document ;
• Proof of health insurance (Valid in Portugal);
• Authorization given to SEF ( Portuguese Foreign Office ) to access the applicant  Portuguese Criminal Record;
• Criminal Record Certificate issued by the due authority of the applicant´s country of origin or issued by any other authority where he/her is resident for the last year;
• Declaration of good faith signed by the applicant where it is compromised to comply with the legal requirements and maintain the investment done for a minimum period of 5 ( five ) years;
• Portuguese fiscal number;
• Declaration of non-liability issued by the Portuguese Tax Department and by the Portuguese Social Security;
• Proof of the investment on a minimum amount of € 500.000,00, by the way of a purchase and sale or a promissory contract of purchase and sale;
• Statement issued by the Bank (e.g. Bank based in Portugal and duly regulated under the Portuguese laws) where the applicant holds an account;
• Land Register Certificate stating that the property(ies) is/are free of any charges or encumbrances;

Family Reunion

The holder may apply for family reunion and should get a decision within 4 weeks.

Family reunification to the following members is permitted:

• The spouse/husband
• The children of under age ( -18 )
• Children older than 18 years old, unmarried and studying at the Portuguese School.

It is also necessary to prove that the applicant has: 

• A residence for his/her family;
• Proof of income above € 6,000 per year for each adult (over 18 years) ;
• Proof of income above € 3,000 per year for each child under 18 years.

All documents shall be delivered in the Portuguese language, therefore, any document delivered in any language other than Portuguese shall be subject to be translated, certified and legalized with the Apostille as per the Hague Convention. The documents obtained from the applicant´s origin country or the current residence country may also be issued by the Portuguese diplomatic or consular.

Amounts payable for purchase of property

Buying a property in Portugal is subject to taxation and expenses related to the acquisition – estimate   between 7 % and 8% of the property purchase price.

Legal Representation

 Legal representation for the completion process;

Legal representation for the GOLDEN VISA process;

Legal representation for the Family Reunion process;

Legal representation for the renewals (Golden VISA and Family Reunion).